This past weekend gave me my first look at the young ones at this nest and they definitely are not small. With Dad and its sibling nearby, one of the juveniles did a few test flaps of its wings – nearly hitting Dad upside the head at one point. 😉 I am guessing it will be a few more weeks before these two are ready to go anywhere.
Why did the Bullsnake cross the road?
I have no idea why this snake was trying to cross a busy road in Longmont, Colorado recently. However, when I spotted it, it was only about halfway across and vehicle traffic was likely going to bring about its demise.
I made a hasty U-turn and since I am “adverse” to reptiles, my friend ran out into the road, picked up the snake and moved it to safety. We of course took the opportunity to take a few pictures before releasing it safely in an adjacent field.
It is a good thing my buddy was there as there is no way I would have grabbed it like he did. I did hold on to its tail briefly so my friend could get his pictures of it but I was not pleased. ;-)?
Elk takes a break at 12,000 feet
With the heat of summer here, many of the elk in Rocky Mountain National Park? have moved to higher – and cooler – ground. For a photographer, this is a great opportunity to get some pictures of them without having trees and other foliage in the way.
Here a bull rests in the early morning sun among grass and wildflowers while behind him, remnants of winter (snow) still linger of the slopes of a mountain.
Maybe not pretty birds, but beautiful fliers
Turkey Vultures, or ‘buzzards’ as some may call them, probably wouldn’t win any bird beauty contests. Their featherless red head and white bill are unique and perhaps only a face a mother could love.
However, when they take to the skies, they soar with the greatest of ease and their sheer size will oftentimes have folks mistake them for eagles or large hawks.
This past weekend I came across 10 or so of these circling some fields, most likely looking for a meal. Having so many of these large birds in one area circling is not unusual but it is a pretty cool sight to see. The kettle was kind enough to oblige with a number of flyovers allowing me to get some nice in-flight shots.
Taken in Longmont, Colorado.
Moose bull gets its close-up
Moose Monday continues with a close up of a gentle giant. The sheer size of these animals is nothing short of intimidating. Of course anything 6+ feet tall and weighing in at 1,000 pounds can make any human feel pretty small and moose definitely do that.
They are generally quite gentle and calm but can be aggressive if startled or something or someone comes too close to their young. This is the same large bull that I posted a picture of earlier today as it grazed right next to the road.
Moose Monday
It had been almost a year since I last visited with these massive creatures so I was pretty happy to return yesterday to a spot in Arapaho National Forest, Colorado where they can be found.
Soon after arriving, my friend and I came across this big Moose bull. Unfortunately he was the only one we found although other folks in the area said there were two females in the area too.
Despite him being the only one on hand, we managed more than our fair share of pictures as he patiently munched on willows for a while before heading off out of sight into the dense forest.
Unless you have ever seen one in person, you truly cannot imagine how big these creatures are. They are just incredible.
Yellow-bellied Marmot basks in the early morning sun
Even at the start of July, it can be quite chilly at 12,000 feet so when the sun comes up, the critters emerge and enjoy the warmth. This little guy (or gal) was one of several Marmots I had an absolutely blast taking pictures of on top Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was very content to curl up on its rock and let the sun work off the morning chill.
Back off!
When I stumbled upon this male Osprey Friday in Grand Lake, Colorado, we both were a bit surprised. Our emotions however were quite different as while I was excited, he seemed pretty darned annoyed about my presence. I’ve had a few people react like that to me too. 😉
Independence Day flight of freedom
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Happy Independence Day!
Who’s in there?
The afternoon was booked but the morning free so I made a quick trip through Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado?. As always, the wildlife was abundant and the scenery incredible. This big guy was on the park’s west side and he put on a nice show for me.